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Better than store-bought Homemade Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Yes, you can make cinnamon toast crunch at home. Itโ€™s way easier than you think, and yes, it will be better than store-bought cereal, so much better. This homemade cereal is extra crunchy, has a touch of butter, is flaky, perfectly sweet, and heavy on the cinnamon. Every bite is roll your eyes back good. Itโ€™s best enjoyed any time of dayโ€ฆwith milk, as an ice cream topping, or simply by the handfuls.

overhead photo of Homemade Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal in bowl with milk being poured over cereal

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Well, this is an exciting Tuesday. Weโ€™re making homemade cinnamon toast crunch and itโ€™s truly one of my best recipes yet.

You guys? This homemade cereal recipe is so good. It brings back all the best childhood memories. And honestly, itโ€™s not only a million times better than the boxed stuff, but itโ€™s also simple to make. If you can roll out pie dough, you can bake up your own homemade cinnamon toast crunch cereal. Plusโ€ฆitโ€™s going to be so fun!

prep photo of Homemade Cinnamon Toast Crunch on baking sheet before baking

cinnamon toast crunch before bakingย 

close up prep photo of cinnamon toast crunch before baking

The Inspiration.

There was a lot of inspiration from different places for this recipe, so let me walk you through it all.

First and foremost, as a kid cinnamon toast crunch was my favorite cereal (then Cheerios, but I was never that into any other cereals). Iโ€™m really not sure how one could not love cinni toast crunchโ€ฆitโ€™s one of the best cereals out there. If the boxed stuff wasnโ€™t so bad for me, Iโ€™d probably still eat it regularly. Iโ€™ll forever love anything cinnamon toast.

Two, after making homemade Twix bars, homemade Chocolate Fudge Pop Tarts, and then, homemade Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop Tarts, I was left wanting to create more homemade versions of my childhood favorites. Something about quarantine life has left me wanting all the nostalgic foods from my past. Is that weird? I donโ€™t know, but I sure am having a lot of fun creating (and improving) on the boxed foods we all ate (and loved) growing up.

overhead photo of Homemade Cinnamon Toast Crunch after baking on baking sheet

Next, most everyone is home right now. Many of you are home with your kids and they are bored. I donโ€™t personally have kids, but I have my little sister, Asher, visiting me oftenโ€ฆand she is bored. Asherโ€™s favorite cereal? Cinnamon Toast Crunchโ€ฆthough sheโ€™s never had the boxed kind. My parents just donโ€™t buy that stuff anymore (correction โ€“ Asher says she has had it at her cousins in Cleveland). But Iโ€™ve made this homemade version before and Asher has always loved it. When I told her what I was making on Sunday, her eyes widened with excitement and we had a lot of fun baking this together. So, my point? This is a great recipe to bake up if you have bored kids at home.

And finally, with summer so close, I feel like a bowl of homemade Cinnamon Toast Crunch would be the perfect lazy summer morning breakfast. No cooking, just add cold milkโ€ฆa chill laid back morning with a bowl of sweet, crunchy breakfast cereal.

overhead photo of Homemade Cinnamon Toast Crunch in cereal bowl before adding milk

Pretty darn close to perfect, right?

PS. dying to know what everyoneโ€™s favorite cereal was/is? Are you all about Cinnamon Toast Crunch? Whatโ€™s your favorite? Pleaseโ€ฆdo share.

Homemade Cinnamon Toast Crunch in mug with milk being poured over cereal

Here are the stepsโ€ฆ

This cinnamon toast crunch cereal is simple. As I mentioned, if you can roll out pie dough, you can make cinnamon toast crunch. Itโ€™s a very simple mixture of whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, cinnamon, butter, vanilla, and a touch of sugar too. Just seven ingredients. All of which you can find in your pantry and fridge.

At least thatโ€™s my hope.

The cinnamon adds flavor directly to the dough. The butter creates a flaky bite, the vanilla adds flavor, and the sugar sweetens it all up. Start by mixing together the cinnamon and sugar. See, super simple.

overhead close up photo of Homemade Cinnamon Toast Crunch in bowl with milk

Now, mix up the dough. I like using the food processor to easily mix the dough and create the flakiest, crunchiest cereal, but you can simply use your hands as well in a large bowl. Once the dough is mixed, itโ€™s time to roll it out.

The key is to roll the dough pretty thin, Iโ€™m talking about the thickness of a quarter. This will give you the crunchiest cereal.

Once the dough is rolled out, I then transfer it to a sheet of parchment paper, brush with butter, and sprinkle with that cinnamon sugar. At this point, cut the dough into little tiny squares.

overhead photo of Homemade Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Next, transfer the parchment paper to a baking sheet and separate the squares, spacing them apart. After a lot of testing, I find the method of cutting the dough first and then transferring to a baking sheet to be the easiest, and to work the best.

Finally, you bake. No chilling needed, just bake for a little over ten minutes, the smells are wonderful. You can eat warm, but these are best once cool. As they cool they become crunchy and so delish.

And thatโ€™s pretty much it. Could not be simpler, and the end result is roll your eyes back good.

side angled photo of Homemade Cinnamon Toast Crunch in coffee mug

The real questionโ€ฆdo they taste like the original?

Well, I donโ€™t know for sure. Itโ€™s been a while since I had my last bowl of cinnamon toast crunch, but this cereal does taste really, really good. And if my memory serves me correctly, yes these taste just like cinnamon toast crunch. But Asher saysโ€ฆbetter. You can really taste the real cinnamon with undertone flavors of vanilla and sweet butter.

And everyoneโ€™s second questionโ€ฆcan you enjoy this cereal with milk? YES, you can. And itโ€™s beyond GOOD. Itโ€™s also great by the handful or when served atop ice cream or even yogurt. The options are endless, but for me, itโ€™s best with cold milk or just by the handful for snacking. Whatโ€™s your pick?

And guys, thatโ€™s about it. This cereal is the simplest to make and every single ingredient is a pantry staple. Meaning you have zero excuses to not bake these up this week. Promise it will be fun, and yes, so delicious!

overhead photo of Homemade Cinnamon Toast Crunch in spoon

Watch The How To Video:

Looking for other homemade favorites? Here are a fewโ€ฆ

Chocolate Fudge Pop Tarts

Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop Tarts

Homemade Vegan Twix Bars

Homemade Healthy Samoas Cookies

Lastly, if you make this homemade cinnamon toast crunch cereal, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, donโ€™t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!

Homemade Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Homemade Cinnamon Toast Crunch | halfbakedharvest.com
4.31 from 349 votes
6 Cups
calories 570kcal
Prep30 minutes
Cook15 minutes
Total45 minutes
Simple to make, uses only 6 pantry staple ingredients, healthier, way better than the box, fun to make, and so delicious!!!
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Ingredientsย 

Instructionsย 

  • 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.ย Make the cinnamon sugar. In small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon cinnamon and the sugar.
    2. In a food processor, combine the whole wheat flour, flour, remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, salt, and butter. Pulse until the mix clumps together to form pea-size balls. Add the vanilla, and 1/2 cup cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough comes together and forms a ball. If the dough feels dry, add 1-2 tablespoons additional water.
    3. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and form into a ball. Divide the dough in half. Working with one piece of dough at a time, roll the dough as thin as you can, preferably an 1/8-inch thick (about the thickness of a quarter). Transfer the dough to a large piece of parchment paper. Brush the dough with melted butter and sprinkle generously with cinnamon sugar, gently pressing the sugar into the dough. Cut into 1/2-inch squares. Repeat with the remaining dough.
    4. Carefully transfer the parchment paper to a baking sheet. Separate the squares, spacing them a 1/2 inch apart.
    5. Bake 12-14 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool completely, then store in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Enjoyโ€ฆwith milk, a top ice cream, or simply by the handful.

Notes

To Make Gluten Free:ย Use an equal amount of your favorite gluten free flour blend in place of the all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour. I recommendย Cup4Cup gluten free flour.ย 
If you donโ€™t have a Food Processor: You can use your fingers to mix the butter with the flour until the butter is pea sized. Slowly drizzle in the cold water as directed.

Nutrition

Calories: 570kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.

overhead horizontal photo of Homemade Cinnamon Toast Crunch in bowl with milk

Meet Tieghan Gerard

I'm Tieghan, the recipes you'll find here are inspired by the people and places I love most. I try to live simply, eat seasonally, and cook with whole foods. My hope is to inspire a love for amazing food, as well as the courage to try something new!

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4.31 from 349 votes (305 ratings without comment)

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347 Comments

  1. Cassidy says:

    5 stars
    I love this. 10/10 recipe.

    Any good tips for prepping ahead and freezing? Should I freeze it like pie dough? Or cut and cinnamon them then freeze the cut form and bake from frozen like frozen cookie dough?

    1. Tieghan Gerard says:

      Hi Cassidy,
      Awesome! I appreciate you making this recipe and your comment, so glad it was enjoyed!

      I would freeze like pie dough, I think that should work nicely for you.

  2. Zoya Mirza says:

    I like this cereal because, It’s taste really good.

    1. Tieghan Gerard says:

      Thanks so much, Zoya!

      1. Zoya Mirza says:

        5 stars
        You’re welcome Tieghan.

  3. Destiny says:

    Hi, what would be a substitute for half the amount of butter? Iโ€™m thinking of trying half coconut oil. Ty!

    1. Tieghan Gerard says:

      Hi Destiny,
      So sorry, I have not tested this recipe with oil, so I am not sure what the results would be. I would stick with the butter:)

      I hope you love this recipe!

  4. Olivia says:

    5 stars
    So very good! My kids love them!

    1. Tieghan Gerard says:

      Hey Olivia,
      Thank you so much for giving this recipe a try and sharing your thoughtsโ€”so happy it worked for you!

  5. Jackson says:

    Can I use a kitchen aid

    1. Tieghan Gerard says:

      Hi Jackson,
      So sorry, I would not recommend that for this recipe. Please let me know if I can help in any other way!

  6. Tyrzah says:

    If I just have white flour can I use that instead of the whole wheat and all purpose flour?

    1. Tieghan Gerard says:

      Hi there,
      Sure, that should be okay for you to do. I hope you love this recipe!

  7. Ali says:

    4 stars
    For the sake of saving time, you absolutely do not have to separate these from each other to bake them. They lift and separate from each other on their own after being cut when you bake them. Otherwise great recipe!

    1. Tieghan Gerard says:

      Hey Ali,
      Thanks for giving this recipe a whirl, I’m so glad it turned out nicely! Stay warm!

  8. Dawn Robbins says:

    5 stars
    Made mine sugar free and low carb and it was SO AMAZING! I used Wio Foods Low Carb flour and a sugar sub mix (erythritol, monk fruit, allulose and a touch of succralose granulars) because when you mix different sugar subs you get better flavor and bake result ounce for ounce for the regular flour and sugar. Followed rest of recipe as follows. Got a whole cup down to 3 net carbs per cup. Itโ€™s was light, crispy and held up in milk great! Thank you!

    1. Tieghan Gerard says:

      Hey Dawn,
      Thanks for giving this recipe a whirl, I’m so glad it turned out nicely! Stay warm!

  9. Lorien E. Milsted says:

    I wish I could add a picture, since I took a nice one with pomegranate and blood oranges on the side. I reserve my rating for when I try it again closer to the recipe.

    Your creations are so beautiful!

    I used some leftover crumbly gluten-free pie dough from Thanksgiving, adding super-sprout wholewheat flour and some water. I probably didnโ€™t roll it out thin enough either…and I forgot to add cinnamon and vanilla to the dough.

    It was chewy and almost too filling, but I enjoyed eating it straight off the cookie sheet and it made a decent cereal. My mother ate most of it straight out of the jar and practically begged me for it.

    I’m hoping to publish my debut novel, Helena Davis Decides, this month or next. Do any of you like historical romance?–Christian Historical Romance?–Anne of Green Gables?–Pollyanna? Or know anyone who does? If so please make note of it.

    1. Tieghan Gerard says:

      Hi Lorien,
      Amazing! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe, thanks for making it and sharing your notes!

  10. Disney says:

    There’s no Cinnamon Toast Crunch in the box! We can make it at home.

    1. Tieghan Gerard says:

      I hope you love the recipe!!

    2. Nikki says:

      5 stars
      We love Tiegan’s recipes and this one was no different. I substituted date sugar instead of a granulated cane and used fresh-milled flour. I received high-fives from the kids so I think it’s a win!

      1. Tieghan Gerard says:

        Hey Nikki,
        Happy Monday! Big thanks for making this recipe and sharing back. So glad it hit the spot!

      2. Amanda says:

        How do you store this and how long would you say it lasts? Iโ€™m sure it wonโ€™t last long anyway once my kids see it but Iโ€™m just curious.

        1. Tieghan Gerard says:

          Hi Amanda,
          These are good in an airtight container for 1 week. Please let me know if you have any other questions!